This week we begin worship with:
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
We are to “work out” and God “works in”. Those English words are convenient opposites, that unfortunately hide that one is a direction and one is a position.
In fact, working out (katergazomai) is the direction “down” like working yeast all the way through the dough. Our salvation is already present but we need to make sure it reaches all aspects of our lives and relationships.
Working in (energeĊ en), like the yeast itself, God is the source of what is happening. While we are instantly a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), we all know the struggle of Paul as a “wretched man” (Romans 7:21-24).
So today, let us rejoice with Paul:
Romans 7:24-25a
Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
No comments:
Post a Comment